Words of advice for jab worriers
Going for the coronavirus vaccine could prove to be a very tough task for those people with a phobia of needles.
Sam Barker says about 10 per cent of the population have a strong phobia about needles and that for them going to have the vaccine will be a real struggle.
Sam, whose Lorem Counselling business is based in Llanyblodwel, just inside the Shropshire border, has some advice for those who may already be worrying about the vaccine.
“Our fears are very, very real and our thoughts that drive our fears are greater than the event itself,” she said.
“The fear from expectation is greater than the event itself and we have to find ways of getting those fears under control.”
She said finding a happy place to go in your head can work for people as can being mindful of their surrounding, the colours they can see or focusing on objects.
“Take along something in your pocket, it could be as simple as a shell from the beach or a button. Feel its size and weight, whether it is rough or smooth. While you are doing that you are not focusing on the needle.
“If you have a favourite perfume or aftershave, put it on a tissue so that you can smell it.
“We can also work with you through counselling to deal with your fears. If you break this down, it is a very, very small chunk of your life that will help you to stay safe for the future.”
Sam, who moved into counselling after a career working with young people and also in social housing, said she – like a lot of counsellors – was speaking to clients on the phone and online at the moment.
“Last summer clients came to see me in my garden, which was wonderful.”
She added: “People are struggling with a great many things – worries about isolation or integration back into society after lockdown, for instance. And there are people who have phobias about catching the virus if they go out.”
She said if people were looking for a counsellor they should go through bona fide approved sites.
